advent calendar fic: day 01
getting the words wrong
The Good Wife | Alicia (+ Diane, Kalinda) | 878 words
Happy Holidays, damelola!
“Alicia!”
One of the second year associates catches her on her way back from lunch. Alicia has stacks of case briefs waiting to be reviewed but stops short as the younger woman beckons her over with one hand.
“Diane wants to see you in her office. She says it’s important.”
Qualifying the request as important is unnecessary; it comes from Diane and any request from either of the name partners is important by definition. Alicia abandons her afternoon plans and reroutes herself, heading to Diane’s office with trepidation weighing heavily on her. Diane has never spoken to her directly about her relationship with Will, but disappointment and disapproval have been clear in every exchange from the moment Diane first discovered the truth.
Alicia hates the idea that she’s let anyone down, but even more than that, she hates the idea that she’s let herself down, too.
xxx
When Alicia arrives at the corner offices, Diane is sitting at her desk and just finishing up a phone call. Diane’s administrative assistant waits until she hangs up the phone before waving Alicia right on through.
“You wanted to see me?” Alicia half asks, half states, as she knocks on the glass door. Diane gestures for her to enter, and Alicia pulls the door shut behind her before taking a seat in front of her boss’ desk.
“I have a new case for you,” Diane says, thumbing through some files on her perfectly-organized desk. When she finds what she’s looking for, she releases the rest of the stack and looks up from behind her glasses. “John Steadman’s daughter is suing his wife for guardianship.”
“John Steadman has a daughter?” Alicia asks, trying to keep the surprise from her tone. John Steadman is one of Diane’s oldest clients and no one else ever handles his affairs. Everyone at the office heard about it the previous spring when he suffered a stroke that left him almost completely incapacitated. Alicia knows he has a wife and two young sons but does not remember anything about a daughter.
“From his first marriage,” Diane explains crisply. “She never took to Eleanor as her stepmother, and now she wants control of all of her father’s personal accounts. I want you to get the case dismissed.”
Alicia nods as everything becomes clear to her. Diane is too involved with the family, and she needs someone unbiased to protect their interests. It is a tremendous honor to be asked, and a chance to prove herself again.
“I will,” she says with a cautious smile.
“I know you will,” Diane confirms in that matter-of-fact tone that manages to inspire confidence and intimidate all at once. “Alicia,” Diane adds as Alicia starts to rise from her chair. “I’ve asked Kalinda to work with you on this.”
“Okay,” Alicia agrees for lack of any other option. This is, of course, the other issue that had raised Diane’s ire. Alicia always knew she couldn’t avoid Kalinda forever, but that doesn’t stop her from feeling like she’s just been issued an additional challenge.
“I’ll have the files to you by the end of the day,” Diane says by way of a dismissal. “Keep me updated.”
“Of course.” Alicia nods before getting up and making her way to the door.
“I don’t expect there will be any problems,” Diane adds as Alicia is halfway out the door.
Alicia replies with a simple, straightforward no, but she wonders if her superior’s words are a vote of confidence or a warning.
xxx
Kalinda stops by her office the next morning, and Alicia is already sorting through the stack of files.
“Diane said you might need my help on a case?” Kalinda asks.
Too bogged down in files to worry about anything else, Alicia answers, “Find out what you can about John Steadman’s daughter.”
“Diane’s John Steadman?” If Kalinda is surprised by this, it doesn’t show. “He has a daughter?”
Alicia nods and holds out a copy of the Petition; the fact that they both asked the same question does not escape her.
“Her name is Janet. Her address is listed there on the Petition.”
Kalinda accepts the proffered documents and looks as though she wants to say something, but leaves without another word.
Alicia breathes a sigh of relief.
xxx
Three weeks later, Alicia gets the case dismissed due in large part to information Kalinda uncovered about the daughter.
A year ago, it would have meant meeting her friend at the bar for tequila shots and celebration. Now, it means she goes home early to an empty apartment because Zach and Grace are staying at Peter’s tonight.
Tequila had never been her drink of choice before she started at Lockhart Gardner, but sitting at her kitchen counter, she downs two shots and hardly feels the burn.
After the second shot, she calls Kalinda on her home number and waits for the voice mail to pick up. There are things they need to say to each other, but those things are better said in person. Instead Alicia says, “Thank you for your help these past few weeks,” and hangs up the phone.
It may not be much, but at least it’s a start.
The Good Wife | Alicia (+ Diane, Kalinda) | 878 words
Happy Holidays, damelola!
“Alicia!”
One of the second year associates catches her on her way back from lunch. Alicia has stacks of case briefs waiting to be reviewed but stops short as the younger woman beckons her over with one hand.
“Diane wants to see you in her office. She says it’s important.”
Qualifying the request as important is unnecessary; it comes from Diane and any request from either of the name partners is important by definition. Alicia abandons her afternoon plans and reroutes herself, heading to Diane’s office with trepidation weighing heavily on her. Diane has never spoken to her directly about her relationship with Will, but disappointment and disapproval have been clear in every exchange from the moment Diane first discovered the truth.
Alicia hates the idea that she’s let anyone down, but even more than that, she hates the idea that she’s let herself down, too.
xxx
When Alicia arrives at the corner offices, Diane is sitting at her desk and just finishing up a phone call. Diane’s administrative assistant waits until she hangs up the phone before waving Alicia right on through.
“You wanted to see me?” Alicia half asks, half states, as she knocks on the glass door. Diane gestures for her to enter, and Alicia pulls the door shut behind her before taking a seat in front of her boss’ desk.
“I have a new case for you,” Diane says, thumbing through some files on her perfectly-organized desk. When she finds what she’s looking for, she releases the rest of the stack and looks up from behind her glasses. “John Steadman’s daughter is suing his wife for guardianship.”
“John Steadman has a daughter?” Alicia asks, trying to keep the surprise from her tone. John Steadman is one of Diane’s oldest clients and no one else ever handles his affairs. Everyone at the office heard about it the previous spring when he suffered a stroke that left him almost completely incapacitated. Alicia knows he has a wife and two young sons but does not remember anything about a daughter.
“From his first marriage,” Diane explains crisply. “She never took to Eleanor as her stepmother, and now she wants control of all of her father’s personal accounts. I want you to get the case dismissed.”
Alicia nods as everything becomes clear to her. Diane is too involved with the family, and she needs someone unbiased to protect their interests. It is a tremendous honor to be asked, and a chance to prove herself again.
“I will,” she says with a cautious smile.
“I know you will,” Diane confirms in that matter-of-fact tone that manages to inspire confidence and intimidate all at once. “Alicia,” Diane adds as Alicia starts to rise from her chair. “I’ve asked Kalinda to work with you on this.”
“Okay,” Alicia agrees for lack of any other option. This is, of course, the other issue that had raised Diane’s ire. Alicia always knew she couldn’t avoid Kalinda forever, but that doesn’t stop her from feeling like she’s just been issued an additional challenge.
“I’ll have the files to you by the end of the day,” Diane says by way of a dismissal. “Keep me updated.”
“Of course.” Alicia nods before getting up and making her way to the door.
“I don’t expect there will be any problems,” Diane adds as Alicia is halfway out the door.
Alicia replies with a simple, straightforward no, but she wonders if her superior’s words are a vote of confidence or a warning.
xxx
Kalinda stops by her office the next morning, and Alicia is already sorting through the stack of files.
“Diane said you might need my help on a case?” Kalinda asks.
Too bogged down in files to worry about anything else, Alicia answers, “Find out what you can about John Steadman’s daughter.”
“Diane’s John Steadman?” If Kalinda is surprised by this, it doesn’t show. “He has a daughter?”
Alicia nods and holds out a copy of the Petition; the fact that they both asked the same question does not escape her.
“Her name is Janet. Her address is listed there on the Petition.”
Kalinda accepts the proffered documents and looks as though she wants to say something, but leaves without another word.
Alicia breathes a sigh of relief.
xxx
Three weeks later, Alicia gets the case dismissed due in large part to information Kalinda uncovered about the daughter.
A year ago, it would have meant meeting her friend at the bar for tequila shots and celebration. Now, it means she goes home early to an empty apartment because Zach and Grace are staying at Peter’s tonight.
Tequila had never been her drink of choice before she started at Lockhart Gardner, but sitting at her kitchen counter, she downs two shots and hardly feels the burn.
After the second shot, she calls Kalinda on her home number and waits for the voice mail to pick up. There are things they need to say to each other, but those things are better said in person. Instead Alicia says, “Thank you for your help these past few weeks,” and hangs up the phone.
It may not be much, but at least it’s a start.